Forum:
Young With Breast Cancer —

I'm a little lonely over here in the UK and was hoping to find some kindred spirits. I'm now almost two years on from my diagnosis. I was diagnosed with Her 2+, weakly ER+ breast cancer in April 09 at the age of 37 about three months before we were due to be married and a few weeks after completion of our first round of IVF (sadly unsuccessful) for which I'd given up my rather stressful job to give it the best chance. The last few years have been a whirlwind of chemo, surgery (I had a mastectomy and reconstruction and lymph node clearance), radiotherapy followed by herceptin, taking me to mid 2010. For a full five months the Doctors thought I had secondary cancer but thankfully later results showed that they had been mistaken. I'm now on tamoxifen (just over a year in with four more to go) and zoladex and am contemplating coming off the tamoxifen early to have a baby.

I'm waiting for a test on my ovarian reserve which will show whether I am producing sufficient follicles to make embryo freezing viable. Once that comes through (and I suspect it will show that there is no point going down the embryo freezing route) I will have to make the decision whether to come off the tamoxifen this year whilst I'm still 39 and therefore eligible for free treatment (I know, we are SO lucky in the UK) and have presumably a higher fertility rate. Or wait a year or two when my fertility will be at rock bottom. I've never felt so old!!!

This is a very lonely decision to have to make, with no statistics and limited evidence to spell out the risks. My oncologist is very happy with me going down the IVF route, but the odds really do seem to be stacked against it being successful. Adoption also looks challenging for us because of my medical history and my partners (he has a spinal injury and is paralysed from the chest down).

I went for a consult with the fertility clinic over the weekend and was shocked to hear that one of the UK's most famous fertility clinics had never treated anyone in my situation. It seems that very few women of child bearing age, who want children but are at that crucial age when they can't wait five years get the sort of aggressive cancer that I had. Most people have either had their family or have had time to freeze their embryos. So I'm feeling a little alone. Whilst I wouldn't wish this situation on anyone, it would be great to hear from someone else who is struggling with the decision whether or not to come off tamoxifen after a year and a half to try for pregnancy.

Started bleeding heavily today. I know that I am miscarrying. Not sure what's next. Not sure if it is responsible for me to stay off tamoxifen to keep trying. I guess I shouldn't worry about that just yet. Heartbroken.

SKD- I am coping. I passed my baby at home last night. We are going to bury 'her' in the garden this spring and plant peonies there. Even if we move we can transplant the peonies. My heart is breaking, but my husband is grieving with me, and my beautiful 5 year old (who did not know we were pregnant) gives me purpose and many smiles. She was away at her cousins last night so she wouldn't be there for the painful physical part. We named the baby Celeste Noelle as she is heavenly and we found out we were pregnant a week before Christmas. It is helping me to acknowledge that we lost a very real little person.

Thank you for asking and letting me share. I am grateful that I got to be pregnant for those 10 weeks, and thankful that I got to see her and say goodbye.

I got married last week to my boyfriend of three years. As of tomorrow, I'm going off tamoxifen since I'm 39 and, well, the clock is ticking! My oncologist said she usually recommends 6 months before trying, which is fine with us as we're going to take the summer to get in shape a bit and take our vitamins every day! My onc is also retiring from Sunnybrook in Toronto. I've been on tamoxifen for 7.5 years now...no idea what's going to happen to my body once I stop. Anyone have any abrupt changes?

Wow - congratulations Clarrn! How exciting for you!! And inspiring, for the rest of us :)

2 years and 1 month before I'm able to take a break from Tamoxifen to TTC and it can't come soon enough.

Sorry if you have already mentioned it, but will this be your first? We were going to start trying for our first (only?) 2 weeks after I was diagnosed. We were just waiting for my husband to finally be done training and to move between cities for his new job. The 3 years on Tamoxifen will be a test of my patience, to be sure.

Miranda- I have a 6 year old who has been praying for a sibling since she could talk. Cancer definitely put that on hold so when we got the go ahead to try we were thrilled. Unfortunately, my fertility numbers (mostly my FSH) took a big hit and my fertility specialist said we wouldn't get pregnant. Well he was wrong. We miscarried at 10 weeks at the end of January :( which I am still devastated about, but am happily pregnant again. :)

I had my appointment at the oncologist today and I am officially done my five years of hormonals!! He has given us his blessing to start trying in three months after my system clears of the zoladex and exemestane. I'm beyond thrilled! I'm not sure if there is another thread that's more appropriate to write this on since I'm not coming off "early" but I'll update with any news in a few months. I figure it might be inspiring for the newbies.

just wanted to put some hope into the the world. My pregnancy was successful with the help of Ivf. We only had 2 embryos, put both in and both took. Don't let low numbers for amh get you down. I tested on tamoxifen and Lupton and my amh was .16. I also had a huge cyst on left ovary and 1 blocked tube. I didnt give up. My dr put me on a couple weeks of bc to shrink the cyst and now I have 2 beautiful 8 month old twins that remind me every day that God has bigger plans for our lives other than breast cancer. I hit 6 years this year! My first daughter was 4 months old when I was diagnosed so I'm just enjoying this time with my twins since it was stolen from me before. Prayers to all you ladies trying to get pregnant. I hope my story helps.

You are welcome! My original fertility doc didn't think I was a good candidate either. So I went to one of the top centers in Raleigh NC called Carolina conceptions. I went in with a huge cyst, one blocked tube and only had 8 follicles. They went ahead with ivf even tho I had a cyst. Out of that reared 2 ok looking embryos. Their quality was only 2bb. They worked perfectly and are sound asleep in the next room. Get a second opinion. Make sure you aren't taking any tamoxifen or other breast cancer drug for a long time before you have testing done for amh, fsh...ect. You will get inaccurate results if there's any anti hormonals lingering. Lupron takes at least 6 months to clear. Let me know ifnyoi have questions.

You are welcome! My original fertility doc didn't think I was a good candidate either. So I went to one of the top centers in Raleigh NC called Carolina conceptions. I went in with a huge cyst, one blocked tube and only had 8 follicles. They went ahead with ivf even tho I had a cyst. Out of that reared 2 ok looking embryos. Their quality was only 2bb. They worked perfectly and are sound asleep in the next room. Get a second opinion. Make sure you aren't taking any tamoxifen or other breast cancer drug for a long time before you have testing done for amh, fsh...ect. You will get inaccurate results if there's any anti hormonals lingering. Lupron takes at least 6 months to clear. Let me know if you have questions. Id be glad to help anyone.